What should my social studies project be on, the bombing of Hiroshima, or the prohibition of alcohol?

Question

Please help! I am in a dilemna. I do not know what I should do my social studies project on. I'm interested in the bombing of Hiroshima--it seems like a pretty cool topic. However, I only have 2 weeks to complete it, and would it be too hard to do the bombing of Hiroshima? If so, I would choose the prohibition of alchohol which is only mildly interesting. I would like to know your opinion...the bombing of Hiroshima, or the prohibition of alchohol?

Answer 1

Both of these topics are great and could be approached in various angles of discussion. I suggest you read a little about both and decide what is best for you. (this is only partial of what is available.)

Hiroshima August 6, 1945.

Col. Tibbets waves from
the cockpit of his B-29
prior to takeoff
In the early morning darkness of August 6, 1945 the B-29 "Enola Gay" piloted by Colonel Paul Tibbets lifted off the runway at Tinian Island and flew into history. Approximately four hours into the flight, Col. Tibbets announced to his specially trained crew that they carried the world's first atomic bomb and that their target was Hiroshima. Their objective was a city of approximately 350,000 located on the southwestern portion of Japan's largest island and as yet untouched by the massive bombing raids carried on by US forces.

The remainder of the trip to their target was unmarred by any Japanese opposition as the bomb was armed and prepared for release. The Enola Gay arrived over the city at 7:25 a.m. cruising at an altitude of 26,000 feet. At 8:16 the bomb was released and detonated a few thousand feet above ground. A blast of blinding light engulfed the crew as the plane made a radical turn to escape the explosion. Donning their protective goggles, Col. Tibbets and his crew looked back to behold an ominous mushroom-shaped cloud boiling into the upper atmosphere.

The city was destroyed. After the war, Supreme Allied Headquarters estimated that 129,558 were killed, wounded or missing as a result of the blast. Yet, this was not enough to persuade the Japanese leadership to surrender. Even a second atomic attack three days later on the city of Nagasaki failed to bring an immediate end to the hostilities. It was not until August 14 that Japan agreed to an unconditional surrender.
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Surviving the Atomic Attack on Hiroshima, 1945

August 6, 1945 - the sun rose into a clear blue sky over the city of Hiroshima, Japan promising a warm and pleasant day. Nothing in the day's dawning indicated that this day would be any different from its predecessors. But this day would be different, very different. This day would change the world.

On this day a single bomb dropped by a single airplane destroyed the city, leading to the end of World War II and introducing mankind to the Atomic Age.

Dr. Michihiko Hachiya lived through that day and kept a diary of his experience. He served as Director of the Hiroshima Communications Hospital and lived near the hospital approximately a mile from the explosion's epicenter. His diary was published in English in 1955

Suddenly, a strong flash of light...

"The hour was early; the morning still, warm, and beautiful. Shimmering leaves, reflecting sunlight from a cloudless sky, made a pleasant contrast with shadows in my garden as I gazed absently through wide-flung doors opening to the south.

Clad in drawers and undershirt, I was sprawled on the living room floor exhausted because I had just spent a sleepless night on duty as an air warden in my hospital.

Suddenly, a strong flash of light startled me - and then another. So well does one recall little things that I remember vividly how a stone lantern in the garden became brilliantly lit and I debated whether this light was caused by a magnesium flare or sparks from a passing trolley.

Garden shadows disappeared. The view where a moment before had been so bright and sunny was now dark and hazy. Through swirling dust I could barely discern a wooden column that had supported one comer of my house. It was leaning crazily and the roof sagged dangerously.

Moving instinctively, I tried to escape, but rubble and fallen timbers barred the way. By picking my way cautiously I managed to reach the roka [an outside hallway]and stepped down into my garden. A profound weakness overcame me, so I stopped to regain my strength. To my surprise I discovered that I was completely naked How odd! Where were my drawers and undershirt?

What had happened?
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History of the Prohibition Act.

When the Doughboys came back from World War I, they found many changes, not the least of which was an absence of alcoholic beverages. The nation, much of which was dry already, had decided to eliminate the saloon, once and for all. As early as 1916, a total of 23 out of 48 states had already passed antisaloon laws.

The movement was undertaken to reduce crime and corruption, improve health, solve social problems and reduce the tax burden created by prisons and poorhouses.

Prohibition, called "the noble experiment" by Herbert Hoover, had come at last. The 18th Amendment to the Constitution prohibited the manufacture, sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors. When the amendment came before the Senate in 1917, it was passed by a one-sided vote after only 13 hours of debate.

When the House of Representatives accepted it a few months later, the debate upon the amendment as a whole, occupied only a single day. Hard to imagine in the politics of this decade. The state legislatures ratified it in short order and by January of 1919, some two months after the armistice, the necessary three-quarters of the states had fallen into line and the amendment was part of the Constitution.

Initially, a number of Americans probably endorsed prohibition but the public rapidly grew disenchanted with it. The hip flask, filled with "bootleg" whiskey and displayed openly, soon became a familiar symbol of the era. Every community of any size had their "speakeasies," where both imported and homemade alcohol could be purchased.

These underground saloons did a booming business. Keeping them supplied was the occupation for many thousands of rumrunners, bootleggers, and beer barons, who were forced to work beyond the law. All too often, rivalries and differences of opinion resulted in open warfare and gangland murders. Thanks to wartime technology, they had new and deadly weapons at their disposal, such as hand grenades, handy for blowing up the competition, not-to-mention machine guns and faster getaway cars.

Inevitably most of the liquor traffic fell into the hands of gangsters, whose names we still know today. Alphonse "Scarface Al" Capone of Chicago was only the most notorious.

Gangsters invested their profits in countless other businesses, both legitimate and illegitimate. Their widespread influence pervaded law enforcement agencies and other organs of government. Americans had never been a particularly law-abiding people, but in the twenties statistics on crime soared.

The Eighteen Amendment had a host of both defenders and detractors. The defenders insisted it was a success, sharply reducing deaths, divorces, accidents and poverty. But the other side held it was a senseless attempt the enforce the impossible. One gentleman of the era quipped, "they might as well have been trying to dry up the Atlantic with a post-office blotter."

Answer 2

Both are good topics with lots of information available...if it were me, I would try to find out the bias of the teacher/instructor/professor. This is not your lifes passion so go for success. Also...be very careful not to parrot the pop culture view on either topic. Try to read three or four papers on the subject and use on line encylopedia to find resources (books etc).

All thiings being equal....go for the bomb....but you might consider a twist....read "The Machine that changed the world.." This is about Toyota which grew in an unusual fashion from the ruins of WWII. As I am sure you have read, Toyota is , or will soon be, the number one car maker.

The big news here is not the car maker but the culture that has grown up around it to include an employee focused way of doing business that is so unique that it has prompted a new way of looking at everything in business...."Lean Production"

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Answer 3

Hiroshima is really interesting and I even did it as a social studies project back in the day. There are plenty of books and other information on this topic to help you too including alot of background information that can help you pad out your project if you find you are short of words.

From experience, you tend to get better marks when the topic of your projects really interest you too so stick with what interests you most

Answer 4

The bombing of hiroshima is a little to in depth for a 2 week assignment. And once you read about the roaring 20's and prohibition, and actually study it, it's pretty interesting.
Go for prohibition.

Answer 5

I would go with Hiroshima...There are many different ways to approach this topic:
1. How it change the world overall with the start of the cold war in the following years.
2. The moral dilemma that it caused for the scientist
3. The project itself...The Manhattan project was huge.
Prohibition was lame...

Answer 6

I would choose Hiroshima, and I would try to answer a small question about the topic. For example, how did President Truman come to decide to authorize the attack? Did Truman ever feel remorse? What effect did it have on the alliance between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

In such a paper you have to be careful not to try to write everything there is to know about the the general topic.

Answer 7

prohibition gave rise to the mob the bombing of hiroshima gave rise to a proud industrial nation both seem pretty interesting but reference material on japan gonna be alot easier to find than is info on an organization that doesnt and never did exist

Answer 8

i Think that both are really interesting topics that could inspire a lot of thoughtful thinking. The probitation of Achohol would probably make many more points to research and list, the bombing of Hiroshema might be a little hard to find intersting information on.

Answer 9

I think I would rather do the prohibition of alcohol. Just think, the illegal running of alcohol across state lines and county lines!!??

The FBI's involvement.....the President making it illegal....the backwoods stills making it....the mafia's input....the "dives" buying it...the older people still alive that remember all of this; in and of itself would be the attraction to me....

Yes, Hiroshima was devestating and probably would be more interesting....but the research on illegal alcohol running and all those involved...old newspapers....the grandparents....the human angle. You would probably be able to talk to alot more people regarding the prohibition of alcohol.

Answer 10

I think with only 2 weeks left you should definately do a topic that you know about it will make it easier to finish, and to also make sure that you get done in the 2 weeks :0)